Let's say you are staying at an inn for free in exchange for running errands for the owner. You always keep your word and you always complete every task in an efficient manner. One morning the owner's toddler son gets up far too early and starts playing far too loud, so you cut out his tongue. You have not broken your word. Does the owner's opinion of you change?
The owner becomes hostile & tries to kill you.
Wouldn't a morally neutral world be a poor setting for a game? You couldn't really be a hero or a villain if there were no right and wrong. 'Ya, ya, ya, thanks for saving the world. Now did you deliver that letter like you said you would, or not?'
Isn't that really what the Larians are talking about though? A world with most or all major decisions being 'least worst' or 'shades of grey' is going to have to be morally neutral, because you otherwise get punished whatever you do.
Look at the runaway cart example:
Your character is not heavy enough to divert it (Preventing noble sacrifice as an option). You can watch it rocket past and kill five people or push the fat guy in the way to stop it. Yelling a warning won't help, because it's a narrow alley on an incline with no hiding places.
Inaction is evil, because five people die.
The only possible action is evil, because you murder someone.
Not much room for 'good/evil' judgements there... The 'greater good' could be convincingly argued either way.
Allowing the 'self sacrifice' option (Reduce to 1 health) would allow good/evil, but also render the choice meaningless in the first place. The 'correct' option to gain reputation/karma would be obvious, thus rendering the entire test no more than an annoyance to most players.
Pretty much every RPG out there is 'right vrs wrong'; 'good vrs evil' and rewards characters who choose whichever behavioural set the game wishes to encourage within its milieu. If Larian want to try something different - good for them, I say <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've no idea if I'd like it, but I'll certainly give it a shot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
